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239 km
About 3 h 45 min
Car 1–4 · Van 5–7
Free cancellation 24 h
North · from KEF
About Hvammstangi and the drive
Hvammstangi is a small village on the shore of Miðfjörður in North-west Iceland, a short drive off Route 1. It is the service centre of the Húnaþing vestra district, with a harbour, a shop, a swimming pool and a few places to stay and eat. The village is home to the Icelandic Seal Center, and it is the gateway to the Vatnsnes peninsula, where a gravel road circles the coast past seal colonies and the sea stack of Hvítserkur.
From Keflavík Airport the drive goes through Reykjavík, north on Route 1 under Hvalfjörður and past Borgarnes, then up over the Holtavörðuheiði mountain pass and down to Hrútafjörður. A little further on you turn off Route 1 for the last stretch to the village. Along the way you pass Grábrók, an old crater right next to the road, a good place to stretch your legs. Plan on a break for food and coffee.
Hvammstangi suits travellers exploring Vatnsnes, visiting family or friends in the district, or staying on a farm in the surrounding valleys. Give us the address and your driver will take you to the door, in the village or out in the countryside. If you are continuing north, our Ring Road planning guide can help you plan the next legs.
Seasons and roads
Holtavörðuheiði is a high mountain pass and can close temporarily in winter storms, and the roads on Vatnsnes are gravel. Daylight is short in midwinter. If a closure looks likely we will contact you to move the pick-up time or the date.
